Lean-led, evidence-based and integrated design: Toward a collaborative briefing process

Abstract

Project Definition is the project phase during which the needs and values of project stakeholders are identified, and appropriate design solutions are developed to satisfy them. However, traditional briefing practices have proved to be inadequate in complex projects involving a great number of stakeholders with, in many cases, conflicting needs and requirements. Moreover, these stakeholders often do not have the skillsets to understand and challenge the brief content or the design solutions proposed by the design professionals. Different approaches have been proposed to improve the Project Definition process in order to deliver buildings with a better fit for use or purpose. This paper explores three of these approaches: Lean-led Design, Evidence-Based Design and Integrated Design. 3D Modeling is also considered for facilitating users understanding of the design solutions. Using a Canadian case study, for which these approaches were adopted and leveraged using BIM, this research highlights opportunities to derive core principles and methods from these approaches into a unified process to break the barrier between the client and the supply chain regarding the identification and management of users’ requirements.